Visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in D.C. is a terrible idea. Let me explain…
1. It’s too small
(If by “small” you mean the largest church in not only the United States, but also North America, and one of the largest in the world.)
2. There aren’t enough masses offered
(Other than the six daily masses and between seven and eight masses on Sundays and holy days of obligation.)
3. It’s hard to get to, and there’s no parking
(That is, if you don’t count the easy access to the DC Metro and the adjacent parking lot that provides multiple spaces and is always free [which is saying something for DC].)
4. There’s nothing to see inside
(Beyond multiple chapels, displays, exhibits, and other manifestations of the Catholic faith, which you can even preview via a virtual tour.)
5. Noone famous has ever been there
(Except for the last three popes, as well as many other well-known Catholic prelates and world leaders.)
6. Its hours are awful
(Other than being open every day of the year, practically from dawn until dusk.)
7. There is noone to show you around, and you might get lost
(Except for the tour guides who are available at various points on every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.)
8. There is nothing to do or see nearby
(But you might be able to stop by other Catholic sites in northeast DC, such as The Catholic University of America [whose campus is adjacent to the Basilica], the Saint John Paul II National Shrine [within a few-minute walk from the Basilica], the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, and many other places in and around Washington, DC.)
